Cape Peninsula

Highlights: Cape Peninsula

Most visitors to the Cape Peninsula make for the Cape of Good Hope section of the National Park with its massive sea cliffs and extensive views. It is famed as being perilous for seafarers and the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet at Cape Point (although they ‘officially’ meet a little further south-east at the less accessible Cape Agulhas).

Prior to reaching Cape Point, on the west coast of the peninsula, is the pretty fishing harbour of Hout Bay. From here it is possible to take a short cruise to Duiker Island (Seal Island) for is large seal colony and also have the opportunity to admire the stunning natural setting of the Bay from the sea.

On the eastern side of the peninsula is False Bay where the Indian Ocean waters are several degrees warmer than the Atlantic seaboard making it more popular area for seaside development. Southern right whale watching is rewarding here from August to November. Boulders Beach, at the southern edge of Simon’s Town has a colony of African Penguins which may be viewed at close quarters. It is one of the only two such colonies in mainland Africa.